Hatrack



J. R. LENTZ Oct. 15, 1935.

HATRACK Filed Dec. 7, 1954 INVENTOR. Jahz A? [e/ziz.

, ATTORNEYS.

Patented Get. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to hat racks and has for one of its main objects to provide a hat supporting device capable of being conveniently mounted in confined spaces as, for instance, upon 6 the inner side of closet doors, wardrobe cabinet doors, and the like, yet adapted to eificiently support hats in such confined spaces without liability of distorting their shapes.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of a hat rack which, because of its particular construction, will require but very little space when mounted in position and which may be arranged in almost any available location, thus rendering its use practically unlimited.

It is also among the desired features of the invention to provide a hat rack devised to positively engage the hat supported thereby, resulting in, the effective retention of the same, and consequently, eliminating the liabilities of the hat falling off the rack.

The invention further aims to provide a device of the character mentioned having a simplified construction and capable of being easily and readily manufactured, thus materially reducing the cost thereof and enhancing its saleable and commercial possibilities.

In addition to the foregoing meritorious features of my improved device, the invention is characterized still further by the fact that its formation renders the same adaptable for supporting one or more hats either in vertical, horizontal, or angular position andso, not only may it be mounted upon closet doors, but also may be hung from the underside of shelves, or similar contrivances. Likewise, my improved device may be put to advantageous use when mounted upon the back of automobile seats or suspended to a suitable portion of automobile tops.

Other important objects and advantages or the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its uses may be more readily understood, I have, in the accompanying drawing and in the detailed description based thereupon, set out a possible embodi-.

ment of the same.

In this drawing:-

Flgure 1 is a front elevation of my improved device.

Figure 2 is a plan thereof.

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

With more particular reference to the drawing, wherein like identifying characters will designate corresponding parts throughout the various figures, it will appear that my improved'hat rack is preferably made of a single length of wire I of circular cross-sectional configuration and given the general formation shown. 5

As illustrated, the device comprises two straight end portions 2, and a straight medial portion 3.

The body of the wire intermediate said portions 2 and 3 is bent at rightangles and curved to provide a pair of semi-circular or U-shaped portions 10 4, each laying in the same plane.

The extremities of the .opposite end portions 2 are bent upon themselves to provide paralleling generally ,L-shaped extensions 5 and 6 respectively, said extensions projecting from the end 15 portions 2 in a direction of substantially a fortyfive degree angle with respect to that of the semicircular or U-shaped portions 4.

The free extremity of each extension 5 and 6, in

. turn, is rounded upon itself to provide an eye I 20 which is formed and disposed to lay in a plane paralleling that of the semi-circular or U-shaped portions 4 and which is adapted to receive a suitable fastening element, such as a screw F, for securing the rack to a supporting surface S. 2 In practice, I prefer utilizing steel wire for the construction of my improved rack and in order to expedite the manufacturing thereof, I find it most desirable to work the wire in the form herein shown and described on a suitable commonly known wire bending machine.

In use, my improved hat rack, being fixed, a herein stated, to the supporting surface S by means of the fastening elements F received through the eyes I, is adapted to engage the hat in the manner illustrated by the dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, that is, the crown C of the hat is placed within the semi-circular or U-shaped portion 4, the brim B being positioned between the body of the rack and the supporting surface S. Itwill beapparent that thus supported, the hat is positively held in place and prevented from accidental'displacement because of the relatively narrow space between the rack and its supporting surface S, which obviates any possibility of the hat tipping and sliding out of engagement with the rack.

It'is also to be noted that the inherent resiliency of my improved wire-constructed rack lends itself most advantageously to assure adequate retention of the hat. Since the device possesses longitudinal resiliency, the opposed branches of the semi-circular or U-shaped' portions 4 will be urged towards one another for slight but suincient frictional engagement with the sides of the B5 hat crown C togrip the same. Likewise, since the device possesses a certain degree of lateral resiliency, the main b'ody..of the device will act to normally maintain the brim B in close proximity to theadjacent rack supporting surface S.

By reason of the particular construction of my improved rack, it will be appreciated that it may be readily and conveniently mounted in practically any position, and requires but very little space for its mounting. One of the many advantages afforded by the construction of the device is that it may most advantageously be placed upon the inside of closet or cabinet doors.- It will also'be understood that the device may be mounted in automobiles, iorinstance, upon the back of the front seat and, when so used, the device may be given an artistic outline and serve as a combined hat and robe rack.

Obviously a multiplicity of racks such as herein shown and described may be mounted either in longitudinal or paralleling relation and, in this manner, provide means for supporting any desired number of 7 hats. Therefore, the device becomes particularly advantageous if so used-in hat stores, restaurants, or other public places.

Whereas I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention as comprising two identical semi-circular orb-shaped portions 4 adapted to receive the hat crown C, it is to be understood that any number of such portions may be provided in a unit and that said portions may be given different shapes. Accordingly, I wish it to be understood that the construction herein set forth is-capabie of many modifications and those modifications which come within the 5 scope of the subjoined claim are to be considered .within the spirit of the invention.

. erally U-shaped hat crown retaining portions disposed to lay in the sameplane, each of said end portions being bent upon itself to provide paralleling generally L-shaped extensions, the branch of the L-extensions immediately following the end portions being positioned to project in a direction of substantially forty-five degrees with 20 respect to the plane in which said U-shaped portions are laying, the other branch of said L- shaped extensions being positioned to project in a direction diametrically opposite to that of said U-shaped portions but laying in a plane parallel- 25 ing that of the latter, and the free extremities of said extensions having means for securing the rack to a supporting surface.

JOHN R. LENTZ. b 

